Makayla Thomas, 9, of San Diego, colors on a giant coloring board for the Steven Universe coloring book volume 1, available in September 2018, as fans attend Preview Night during the San Diego Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

With bright primary colors, themes of togetherness and friendship and catchy songs, the animated Cartoon Network television show “Steven Universe” has become a favorite among young viewers. But its examples of inclusion and acceptance have found a staunch and loyal following among adults, as well.

“I never had a show like this for me as a child, and that means a lot to me,” creator Rebecca Sugar said Friday during a panel discussion about the show at Comic-Con International. “So I’m glad to know that adults can also relate to it.”

During the panel held in Ballroom 20 of the San Diego Convention Center, thousands of fans were treated to a preview of the first trailer for the upcoming “Steven Universe the Movie” scheduled to air Sept. 2 on Cartoon Network.

The show is a coming-of-age story focusing on the perspective of Steven, the youngest member of the Crystal Gems, a team of alien guardians who have vowed to protect Earth. The four Crystal Gems are Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Steven a young half-human, half-Gem boy who inherited a gemstone from his mother, the Crystal Gem Rose Quartz. She gave up her form to create Steven.

At the panel, at least two audience members thanked Sugar and the voice cast present for creating a show where LGBTQ people like them could see themselves. Sugar herself has come out as bisexual and non-binary. Another attendee with autism said Sugar and the cast were his “animation heroes.”

The cartoon show has been seen as the leader in LGBTQ representation in children’s television. It made history last summer with the first same-sex proposal on a children’s animated series. It was followed by a wedding episode for the characters, Ruby and Sapphire, two members of the intergalactic Crystal Gems who combine to form the stoic Garnet.

Husband and wife, Adam and Jen Johnson of Stow, Ohio, said they love the show and each have a very emotional connection to the series.

Jen Johnson’s mother recently came out as bisexual and she told Jen there weren’t any shows like “Steven Universe” when she was growing up.

“I think about that and I wonder if there had been a show like this, would things have changed? Would she have come out sooner?” Jen Johnson, who was dressed as Pearl, said.

Her husband, dressed as Steven, agreed that representation in the show was very important adding that the show’s intentional focus on the strong relationships between the characters is something that draws him to the series.

“I have to admit that Rebecca Sugar makes me cry on a regular basis,” he said. “That’s the real power of the show. That it comes from a genuine place and makes you feel things.”

At that moment, Sugar and a group of people walked by the couple to which Adam Johnson exclaimed, “It’s Rebecca Sugar!”

Sugar smiled and waved but said she had to get to another event prompting him to yell, “I love you!”

The incredulous couple smiled at each other and giggled at their brief run-in with the creator of one of their favorite shows.

Although there have been other examples of LGBTQ representation on other cartoons, including “Adventure Time” – a show Sugar was also a part of – “Clarence,” “Gravity Falls,” “The Legend of Kora” and even “Hey Arnold!” many have noticed more representation since the creation of “Steven Universe.”

Sugar, however, was quick to point out at a different panel hosted by Polygon that this is not a trend.

“There were people trying to do this before but were told ‘no,’” she said.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela is an award-winning journalist who’s covered breaking news in Southern California since 2006 and has been on the front lines of several national and international news events. She’s worked for media outlets serving Southern California readers covering education, local government, entertainment and all things nerd including comic book culture and video games. She’s an amateur obstacle course racer, constant fact-checker, mother of three and lover of all things adorable.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.